Portable collapsible recompression chamber

ABSTRACT

A portable recompression chamber for emergency treatment of and transportation of divers stricken with the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;bends.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; It is in the form of an elongate pressure chamber of circular cross section capable of receiving a patient on a stretcher. It is collapsible into a small space and has an end closure means which is reversible in order to protect the instruments located thereon during storage.

United States Patent [191 Nielsen Aug. 28, 1973 v [54] PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE 2,448,546 9/1948 Plemel 128/204 COMPRESSION CHAMBER v FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS e tor: P t Nielsen, Ventura. Calif- 403,792 9/1941 Italy 128/204, [73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by he of the Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Navy Washington, c. Assisranl Examiner-G. F. Dunne A ttOrney- Richard S. Sciascia, Q. Baxter Warner [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 et [21] Appl. No.: 181,678

[5 7] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. A portable compression chamber for emergency In. h I xz i g gg treatment of and transportation of divers stricken with [58] Field M g' "128/298 204 the bends. It is in the form of an elongate pressure chamber of circular cross section capable of receiving [56] Relennc Cited a patient on a stretcher. It is collapsible into a small space and has an end closure means which is reversible UNITED STATES PATENTS in order to protect the instruments located thereon dur- 1,294,188 2/1919. Stelzner 128/298 i im- 2,401,230 '5/1946 Colley 128/298 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEMuca ms 3. 754551 sum 1 or 3 FIG. I

PATENTEDMIGZB i973 SHEU30F3 FIG.

FIG.7

PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE RECOMPR'ESSION CHAMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of a diver stricken with the bends.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various recompression chambers have been em-- ployed for treatment of divers stricken'with the bends. However many of these chambers are subject to numerous limitations and disadvantages. Most are quite heavy and cannot conveniently be transported to areas where they may be needed. Also their external dimensions prohibit them from entering the large medical double lock recompression chambers where the diver can receive additional treatment under a doctors care.

Some recompression chambers are collapsible but various essential parts thereof are not collapsible and do not fit within the interior of the collapsed stowed chamber. These loose parts are subject to being lost or misplaced. Furthermore, most collapsible recompression chambers have vulnerable seals which are subject to damage each time the chamber is expanded or collapsed. V

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO The present invention involves a portable recompression chamber having three telescoping sections withdovetail flanges for O-ring seals, telescoping side rails which are pinned tothe recompression device serve as an expansion bar to preseal the chamber and to provide a lifting means. A batch: cover which maybe reversible is equipped with a double. machined flange and is sealed to the chamber body by a ring, and clamp arrangement and. a viewing window is secured to the chamber body. The expanded chamber body is presealed by a, sealing wheel to-assure initial close engagement of the sealingsurfaces.

STATEMENT- OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a, portable collapsible recompression:chamber'for immediate on the spot treatment of a diver stricken" with; the. bends and safe transportationxof the diver to alarge medical recompression chamber where he can BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1. is, a :sideclevation partially broken away show ing the recompression chamber in a telescoped condition.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the invention showing the instrumented hatch cover sealed with a clamp ring ar- 'rangement.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the recompressioncham- -ber partially broken away and in the expanded condition.

. FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of one of the telescoping tube arrangements of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is'a fragmentary enlarged detail view of the seal portion of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of the broken away portion of FIG. 1 showing the pin arrangement for the side rails in the telescoped condition.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the recompression chamber in an expanded condition with the hatch removed and a patient being placed therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBO IMENT Referring to the drawings, the present invention comprises a telescoping recompression chamber assembly 10 which in its expanded state has thefshape of an elongated sectioned cylinder. The chamber assembly 10includes the telescoping'sections 12, 14, and 16 with the ends of each section provided with v dovetail ground flanges 18 and 20 for an 0'-ring seal 22. The O-ring, is

- positioned in groove 24 as shown in FIGS. 4 and S which not only protects the O-ring but renders it readily accessible for securing a replacement.

It will benoted that Teflon (polymerized tetr'afl'uo roethylene) guides 34 are mounted on flanges 18 and 20 of each telescoping section to provide ease in sliding movement and to prevent the sections fromchaffing'ot cocking. While the guides are preferably of the sliding type and'are manufactured from Teflon, they may cornprise a roller bearing arrangement if desirable.

A pair of telescoping side rails designated as 26,28 and 30 are attachedto'opposite sides of the individual sections 1'2, 14 and 16 by the links 19 substantially asshown. The rails are equipped with pin holes 32 at'each endthereof to allow insertion of release pins 35 which hold thesections in either .an expanded or telescoped condition. The pin storage rack 33 located in'the inner curve of rail'30 is adapted to hold severalpins 35 while the chamber 10 is in the stowed position; The pins "are also designed to prevent unnecessary movement of sec tions l2, and 16 because of their attachment to the side'rails thus further decreasing the'possibility of'damage to'the O-ring seals 22. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the pins 35 are attached'to a corresponding side rail by the flexible wire 4'1. This arrangement'obviate's' loss or misplacement of the pins. The telescoping side rails being attached'to a corresponding body section serve as an expansion bar to preseal the recompression chamber and'to provide a means of lifting the device.

Thehatch cover 36 is provided with-the double rhachined flanges'38'and 40. A V-band 42and ring-clamp 44-with an over-center handle 46 seals the hatch" cover to'the forward chamber section 12. The hatch cover 36" contains all necessaryequipment indicated generallyas and implacement'of the cover; It is emphasized that'thehatch cover is reversible which allows the treating it is within the concept of this invention to render the serted into chamber body 12, rotated into position and then sealed by the internal pressure.

The top of chamber body section 12 is provided with a viewing window 54 fabricated preferably from a suitable acrylic plastic material. However, it may also be a suitable glass capable of withstanding not less than 125 psig. A gasket 56 may be placed on each side of the window and a clamp ring 58 secures the window and gaskets to section 12 with a plurality of bolts 60.

It will be noted that a presealing wheel 62 is mounted for rotational movement on the bracket 64 attached to the aft end of telescoping section 16 by bolt 66. The preseal wheel 62 is adapted to thread into the aft rail section 30 as shown in FIG. 3. Thus by rotating the wheel 62 the chamber sections 12,-14 and 16 are pulled taut allowing the O-ring seals 22 to initially seal the chamber 10.

While not considered as part of the invention, a lightweight collapsible stretcher 68 should be provided with the recompression chamber to ensure that a means of carrying the patient will always be available. It should be collapsible in order to fit inside the stowed chamber thereby decreasing the chance of being misplaced.

Thus in operation the stowed recompression chamber 10 is laid horizontally with the viewing window 54 facing up. The clamp ring holding the hatch cover 36 is loosened and the hatch cover is removed. The stretcher 68 is removed from the interior of chamber 10 and unfolded.

The release pins 35 are removed from pin holes 32 in the forward rail 26 and in the storage rack 33 mounted on aft' side rail 30.

The aft rail 30 is pulled to extend the center and aft sections 14 and 16 of chamber 10 and the release pins 35 are reinserted. The wheel 62 is turned so as to pre seal chamber 10.

The patient is fitted with an inhalator mask 70 which is attached to the equipment 48. The patient now positioned on stretcher 68 is placed inside the chamber 10 and the hatch cover 36 is replaced and latched.

The chamber 10 with the patient is then transported to a hospital.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. lt is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced othewise than as specifically described.

I claim: 1. ln a portable recompression device adapted to enclose a patients body, said device being a hermetically sealed elongated casing with a viewing window in the wall thereof and means attached to said device for treating the patient, the improvement comprising:

a series of telescoping sections forming the casing, said sections being in the telescoped condition when the recompression device is not in use and in .the extended condition during use, said sections having dovetail flanges;

an O-ring positioned in a groove in one of said flanges and adapted to seal said sections when in the extended condition;

plastic guides mounted on opposite flanges of each telescoping section to prevent chaffing;

telescoping side rails mounted on opposite sides of each telescoping section, said side rails serving as an expansion bar to assist in presealing the recompression device and to act as a lifting bar;

means for holding said side rails in an extended position to prevent undue movement thereof prior to sealing of the recompression device;

adjustable presealing means adpated to properly position said sections prior to actual sealing, and;

a hatch cover means adapted to afford an entrance for a patient to said recompression device and to seal the same after a patient has been placed therein, wherein the rim of the hatch cover consists of two parallel identical flanges whereby the hatch cover may be reversed during storage to protect sensitive instruments attached thereto.

2. The portable recompression device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

three telescoping sections form said casing thus reducing the maintenance of O-ring seals between said sections. 3. The portable recompression device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said guides mounted on the flanges of each section are manufactured from polymerized tetrafluoroethylene. 4. The portable recompression of claim 1 wherein said hatch cover means includes;

an inhalator mask attached to the inside of the hatch cover; a ring clamp to seal said hatch cover to the forward telescoping section of said recompression device.

I! i t t 

1. In a portable recompression device adapted to enclose a patient''s body, said device being a hermetically sealed elongated casing with a viewing window in the wall thereof and means attached to said device for treating the patient, the improvement comprising: a series of telescoping sections forming the casing, said sections being in the telescoped condition when the recompression device is not in use and in the extended condition during use, said sections having dovetail flanges; an O-ring positioned in a groove in one of said flanges and adapted to seal said sections when in the extended condition; plastic guides mounted on opposite flanges of each telescoping section to prevent chaffing; telescoping side rails mounted on opposite sides of each telescoping section, said side rails serving as an expansion bar to assist in presealing the recompression device and to act as a lifting bar; means for holding said side rails in an extended position to prevent undue movement thereof prior to sealing of the recompression device; adjustable presealing means adpated to properly position said sections prior to actual sealing, and; a hatch cover means adapted to afford an entrance for a patient to said recompression device and to seal the same after a patient has been placed therein, wherein the rim of the hatch cover consists of two parallel identical flanges whereby the hatch cover may be reversed during storage to protect sensitive instruments attached thereto.
 2. The portable recompression device as defined in claim 1 wherein: three telescoping sections form said casing thus reducing the maintenance of O-ring seals between said sections.
 3. The portable recompression device as defined in claim 1 wherein: said guides mounted on the flanges of each section are manufactured from polymerized tetrafluoroethylene.
 4. The portable recompression of claim 1 wherein said hatch cover means includes; an inhalator mask attached to the inside of the hatch cover; a ring clamp to seal said hatch cover to the forward telescoping section of said recompression device. 